Sponsored Game Review: Angry Birds Star Wars

That’s right folks, it’s that time again, there’s another Angry Birds game out and doing the rounds on the Play Store. While this seems to be happening quite often there seems to be no stopping Rovio and the Squawkers from being any more popular than they always have been. This time around they’re trying something a little bit different, with the first Angry Birds game to license another franchise’s brand and to bring us a truly themed Angry Birds game. In this latest game you’ll be flinging birds on an intergalactic scale and helping to save not only your eggs from the Pigs but the whole Galaxy. Read on to find out whether or not this Angry Birds game is a step too far.

Description: if you’ve played Angry Birds Space then this latest game will seem pretty familiar to you and will help to get you playing this Star Wars version. The same physics that were introduced in that version are very much present and correct here and will have you enjoying yourself just as much as you did in the past game. What is new though, is the introduction of characters from your favorite trilogy – the original trilogy, none of this prequel nonsense – in bird form as well as some tweaks to the overall recipe to make it more Star Wars related. There are themed levels and the whole thing is as if you were playing out Angry Birds in a very George Lucas crafted Universe. Take a look at the trailer below to see how it plays:

How it Works: Let’s get this out of the way, if you’ve played Angry Birds before, then you know how to play this games. There are however, a number of changes that have been made to the overall recipe. These changes are most cosmetic and you can of course play through iconic settings from those great films. Some however, change the very behaviour of your chosen bird weapons.

For instance, there is a change to how the black birds play out, these are based on our only hope, Obi-Wan and instead of usually blowing up when you tap the screen, they use the force to move objects into other objects. It seems a little strange at first but once you get used to it you can have a lot of fun with it.

C3-PO is here and sort of replaces the white birds that we’ve come to know and love. It’s pretty fitting then that when you tap the screen there are no explosions, only a tactical malfunction that you’ve got to use to your advantage.

It wouldn’t be anything Star Wars without R2-D2 making an appearance and here he’s a truly different bird and of course, malfunctions in style, you’ve got to tap the screen at the right time for him to release an electric shock to nearby Pigs and if you use him right, he can be a really helpful asset on the team.

There are a number of levels in the game but it’s worth mentioning that not all of them are here just yet, in true Rovio style, these will be coming in an update. The usual scoring system that drives you made when you can’t get 3 stars is still present and correct and when you collect enough you’ll unlock bonus levels.

Opinion: There’s something else we should get out of the way here as well, I’m a pretty big Star Wars fan. I’m too young to remember it hitting the theaters the first time round but I grew up with the Prequel Trilogy and after getting them all on DVD I was hooked on the original trilogy as well. I’m also a fan of games, big, small, hardcore or casual I’ll play anything. Angry Birds is a lot of fun for me as it’s perhaps the only game that my aprents and my girlfriend can play without getting frustrated over the controls or whatever else they don’t get. This is a great game if you have fond memories of Star Wars and the sound effects and tweaks make it a fun game and perhaps a gateway to get your own children interested in Star Wars before Disney goes and ruins it for all of us.

Theme (5/5) – It might be cheesy but I really enjoy the added sound effects and tweaks that make this a Star Wars twist on the game.

Features (4/5) – There’s not much to say about a game that essentially Angry Birds Space dressed up in George Lucas’ wardrobe but, it packs enough in to keep you interested.

Overall (4/5) – It’s perhaps the same Angry Birds you played last week but if you’re a fan of Star Wars in any way, you’re going to love this.

Pros

Enough tweaks to make the game feel fun again.

Perfect for getting yet another generation into the brilliant films.

Hearing R2-D2 squawk like that is just cool.

It’s just as fun as it always was.

Cons

It’s really just Angry Birds in Space

Not enough to make it appeal to those that aren’t fans of Star Wars

Conclusion: There’s really no reason not to play this latest game in the series, unless you hate Angry Birds and Star Wars that is. There’s a whole lot to love about the game and the additions have really made it a lot of fun for those of us that remember Star Wars fondly. I think there’s something mor important than that; this is the perfect way to get yet another generation involved in the epic saga that is Star Wars. Every so many years they say there are group of kids finding the films and with this game it should be easier than ever. So, if you have children, do me a favor, let them play this and then go out and get the family a boxset. If you don’t have kids, then just kick your feet up, play this and then go ahead and break your favorite film from the saga out. Mine? It’s The Empire Strikes Back. What’s yours?